USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                        About FRAAbout FRA
  

        
              Overview
                Organization
                Program Offices
                Resource Center
                Web Policies and Notices
                Contact Us
                Communications
                Governmental AffairsFeatured
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Information from FRA
                Careers
                Leadership Profiles
                Organizational Chart
                Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches
                Fact Sheets
                TestimonyRailroad SafetyFeatured
  

        
              Train Horn Rule/Quiet Zones
                Public Blocked Crossings Incident Reporter
                Drug & Alcohol
                Safety Data
                C3RS
                High-Hazard Flammable Train Route AssessmentRailroad Safety
  

        
              Overview
                Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention
                Accident Data & Reporting, Investigations
                Divisions
                Partnerships & ProgramsRail Network DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              High-Speed Rail
                Amtrak
                Environmental Reviews
                GIS Maps
                RuralRail Network Development
  

        
              Overview
                Passenger Rail
                Freight Rail
                Environment
                Planning
                International
                Maps & Data
                Training & GuidanceResearch & DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              R&D Current Projects
                Positive Train Control
                Hazardous Materials
                Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
                Close Call Reporting
                Broad Agency AnnouncementResearch & Development
  

        
              Overview
                Program Areas
                R&D ReportsLegislation & RegulationsFeatured
  

        
              FAST Act
                National Rail Plan
                Proposed State Rail Plan
                Civil PenaltiesLegislation & Regulations
  

        
              Overview
                Legislation
                Regulations & Rulemaking
                Buy AmericaGrants & LoansFeatured
  

        
              FRA Discretionary Grant Program Tool
                Discretionary Grant Calendar
                Railroad Capital Project Guidance
                FRA Webinars
                DOT GrantsGrants & Loans
  

        
              Overview
                Grant Programs
                Applying for Grants
                Resources for Grant Recipients
                Training & GuidanceFRA eLibraryeLibrary
  

        
              Accidents & Fatalities
                Compliance
                Conferences & Presentations
                Emergency & Safety
                Enforcement & Litigation
                Publications & Policy
                Reports
                OtherMenu Home


            
            Upgrades to allow for more frequent, reliable and faster rail service along the Northeast Corridor recommended
      

      
  Document Series
              Press Releases


      

      
Press Release Number
              27-16

  Contact Name
              FRA Public Affairs

  Contact Phone Number
              202-493-6024


      Subject
                    Intercity Passenger Rail Investment ,
                    Passenger Rail


      
  Keywords
              NEC, Passenger Rail,


      

      
              Friday, December 16, 2016
      
              
                  
      
      
              WASHINGTON - After four years of working with the Northeast states, federal and state partner agencies and dozens and dozens of public meetings, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today recommended a vision to build a better and stronger Northeast Corridor (NEC) over the next 30 years.
View a video outlining the new vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JU7RanFgRY.
“The Department of Transportation believes that investing in this vision for the Northeast Corridor must happen—because rail does more than take us places; it provides us with opportunities and connects us to the future,”**said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.**“While building this recommendation would require significant investment, the cost of doing nothing is much greater. The communities and the economies of the Northeast cannot grow and flourish without significant, new investment.”
In 2012, at the urging of Congress, all Northeast states and the Federal Railroad Administration began working together to develop a vision that would help guide and coordinate planning and investments. For more than four years, and including numerous agency and public meetings, the Northeast states and FRA have engaged stakeholders about their ideas, hopes, recommendations and concerns about the future of the NEC. The extensive outreach has included broad stakeholder engagement from individuals, elected leaders, civic organizations in small townships and business leaders.
What quickly became clear, and was universally agreed, is that the corridor’s current capacity is vastly inadequate. Today’s NEC simply cannot meet the demands of today—or tomorrow.
The recommendation announced today by the FRA would increase reliability and provide more options by:**
Adding new tracks to increase the Northeast Corridor to four tracks in most locations, which would allow for more frequent and faster service. Additional tracks would be added to areas with greater demand.
Providing intercity access to Philadelphia Airport so that passengers do not have to change trains at 30th Street.
Adding direct and frequent service to Hartford, Conn., and Springfield, Mass.
Increasing, and in some cases doubling, the number of regional trains and providing up to five times more intercity trains.The recommendation would improve travel times:
Travel from Boston to New York City would be 45 minutes faster (total time of 2 hours, 45 minutes).
Travel from New York City to Washington, D.C., would be 35 minutes faster (total time of 2 hours, 10 minutes).While the recommendation made today would grow the role of rail along the Northeast Corridor, it prioritizes bringing the current corridor back to good condition, or a state of good repair, first.
With the corridor returned to good condition, the recommendation includes projects that will allow for even faster and more reliable service, along with more options for commuters and travelers. The recommendation is also projected to create 47,000 jobs each year, for 30 years.
The recommendation FRA released today is just that – a recommendation for what FRA believes the Northeast Corridor could be in the future. In fact, it will now be up to states, cities and railroads to take next steps and decide whether to move forward with any specific projects. Each individual project, just like any other infrastructure project in this country, will require more review and more environmental studies, as well as significant funding.
“In order to keep moving forward, we need a new vision for the Northeast Corridor – a corridor that can move an ever-increasing population safer, faster and more reliably than before,” **said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.** “We need a corridor that provides more options and more trains for commuters. One that allows for seamless travel between the nation’s capital and New York, and New York and Providence and Boston. A corridor that provides streamlined connections between a city’s airports and its city center. And a corridor that can efficiently and reliably serve a population that is growing quickly.”
FRA believes that today’s recommendation is a strong one and should move forward. To do that, it will require the business community, railroads, states, Congress and the millions of people who use the NEC every day to make it clear that this is a necessary and worthy investment.
For more information, visit www.necfuture.com

****
      
            *DOT is committed to ensuring that information is available in appropriate alternative formats to meet the requirements of persons who have a disability. If you require an alternative version of files provided on this page, please contact
  					FRADevOps@dot.gov.* U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Railroad Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About Us
  

        
              About FRA
                Careers
                Contact Us
                FRA Civil Rights
                Doing Business with FRA
                Grants and Financial Assistance
                Safety Management TeamsAreas of Interest
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
                Safety Data
                Buy America
                Operation Lifesaver
                Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
                FRA Secure Area
                Proactive DisclosureI Am A...
  

        
              Railroad Traveler
                Railroad Inspector
                Reporter
                Educator/StudentPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web Standards